benedict hebzog



(No Model.)

- I'. B. HERZOG.

THILL GOUPLING.

N0.v282,080. Patented July 3l, 1883.

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j i "ff f f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

F. BENEDICT HERZOG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF- ONE-HALF .TO

' JAMES ORIN NOAKES, OF SAME PLAGE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 282,080, dated July 31, 1883,

` Application filed March 17, 1883. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, F. BENEDIOT HERZOG, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a full, true, and eXact description, reference be-` ing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a thill-coupling in which no leather, rubber, or similar contrivance is used, and in which the parts, when in use, are automaticallylocked and are not liable to become loosened in any way, thereby preventing the necessity of the straps now usually employed to prevent accident in case of the breaking ofthe coupling contrivance. The elevation of the shafts or pole7 as the case may. be, in this contrivance automatically looks the parts together and prevents their separating.

' My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying` drawings, in Vwhich Figure 1 represents a general view, partly in section, of my contrivance, Fig. 2, a view of the locking contrivance in Fig. 1, looking at it from the under side 5 Figs. 3 and 4, a vertical section through Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 8, bottom views of my locking/contrivance; Figs. 6 and 7, views of the connecting-barV with which the coupling engages.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.

Arepresents a bar or connection to be fastened to the draft-bar of the wagon. This buckle is preferably forged in one piece. The front end or cross connecting-bar (marked C) may be either of the shape shown in Fig 6 or the shape shown in Fig. 7. `A swelling or ex tension of thisbar is shown at the forward side. (Marked E.)

B represents the part of the coupling connected with the thill; and it consists generally of a hook-shaped portionhaving a cavity for the reception of the bar C. Two hook-like projections, L and M, are shown, with which the lock-plate D engages when the coupling is closed. This lock-plate is permanently pivoted to the apparatus by the pivot J, and can be swung laterally around this pivot or rivet .to allow the placing of the coupling in position, as shown in Fig. 5. The chamber P in the piece B is provided with a recess for the `in position;

reception of the 'swelling or extension E shown when the thill is lowered, so as to enable the plate D to pass beneath the corner K of the part A. As soon as the thill is raised, as shown in Fig. 1, the cornersK pass downward on both sides of the plate D, thereby locking it r From this it follows that when the parts are in position and the thill is raised and attached to ,the horse, they cannot possibly become disengaged, the use of the screwbolt H being merely to hold the parts together when the vehicle is not in use. It will be seen that the ellipsoidal shape of the bar C causes the said bar to jam in the cavity P when the thill is raised. By this means a tight connection is made, insuring the absence of any rattle. The parts are prevented from having any loss of motion laterally by the en- 1 gagement of the extension D in the cavity NV.

This coupling is cheap, simple, and eiiicacious, and absolutely safe, for, unlike the ordinary coupling, it is not dependent upon the proper position of a nut upon a screw.

It will be readily seen that the position of the parts may, if desired, be reversed; also, in practice, as shown in Fig. 2, the part A is so arranged that the plate D can only be slipped out on one side, the otherbcing circular. Only one side, K, is in practice cut off to allow such removal.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A thill-coupling consisting of a bar, a suitable chamber for receiving said bar, and a locking device permanently pivotcd to the wall of the chamber, and mechanism for automatically preventing the withdrawal of said locking device when the thill is raised, substantially as described.

IOO

2.. The vcombination of the bar C, chamber P, and pivoted locking-plate D, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the elliptical bar E, chamber l?, and lockingplate D, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the bar G, coupling B, provided with chamber l?, locking-plate D, and the hook portions L and M, engaging with locking-plate D, permanently pivoted Within the hook M, substantially as described'.

5. The combination ofthe bolt C, coupling B, provided with chamberl?, and pivoted lockling by a pivot, J, or equivalent device, and capable of being locked in position by the bolt H, substantially as described.

6. The combination of coupling B, provided with chamber l?, bar C, plate D, permanently vided Withbar C, and double-coned extens'i'ons on either end of said bar, With coupling B, provided With locking-plate D, for the purpose of centering said coupling on the bar `C, substantially as described.

8'. The combination of the buckle A, provided Witli feather V, and coupling B, provided with pins NV for the reception of the ing-plate D, permanently attached to the coup feather V when in position, substantially f described.

F. BENEDICT HERZOG.

Witnesses: l ANTHONY Gruen, J r., WILLMM A. PoLLocK.

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